Jury acquits man of life insurance murder plot

Updated 6:25 am, Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Bernard “B.J.” Brown was accused by co-defendants of being the triggerman in a 2010 slaying.

Bernard “B.J.” Brown was accused by co-defendants of being the triggerman in a 2010 slaying.

Photo: Lisa Krantz, San Antonio Express-News

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A button with a photograph of Samuel Johnson, Jr. carried by his mother, Stephanie Johnson, during the trial of Bernard "B.J." Brown, for the murder of her son in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. less

A button with a photograph of Samuel Johnson, Jr. carried by his mother, Stephanie Johnson, during the trial of Bernard "B.J." Brown, for the murder of her son in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Bernard "B.J." Brown, center, confers with his attorneys Cleophus Marshall, left, and Jennifer Maritza Perez-Stewart, right, during his trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. less

Bernard "B.J." Brown, center, confers with his attorneys Cleophus Marshall, left, and Jennifer Maritza Perez-Stewart, right, during his trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Bernard "B.J." Brown confers with his attorney Jennifer Maritza Perez-Stewart, right, during his trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013.

Bernard "B.J." Brown confers with his attorney Jennifer Maritza Perez-Stewart, right, during his trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Stephanie Johnson, left, walks with her daughter, Jennifer Johnson, back into the the 379th District Court after a break in the trial for the murder of her son, Samuel Johnson, Jr., in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. less

Stephanie Johnson, left, walks with her daughter, Jennifer Johnson, back into the the 379th District Court after a break in the trial for the murder of her son, Samuel Johnson, Jr., in San Antonio on Tuesday, ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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LaKisha Brown testifies about the rope used in the murder, on screen at right, during Bernard "B.J." Brown's trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. less

LaKisha Brown testifies about the rope used in the murder, on screen at right, during Bernard "B.J." Brown's trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Bernard "B.J." Brown, sits with his attorneys during his trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013.

Bernard "B.J." Brown, sits with his attorneys during his trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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LaKisha Brown testifies during Bernard "B.J." Brown's trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013.

LaKisha Brown testifies during Bernard "B.J." Brown's trial for the murder of Samuel Johnson, Jr. in the 379th District Court in San Antonio on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Jury acquits man of life insurance murder plot

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SAN ANTONIO — Prosecutors were dealt a second major setback in as many months Tuesday regarding the murder of VIA bus driver Samuel Allen Johnson Jr., whose killers gave graphic descriptions of his beating, abduction and futile pleas for mercy.

Jurors acquitted Bernard “B.J.” Brown, 27, of participating in the scheme despite testimony from his cousin and his former common-law wife — both co-defendants — that he was the triggerman. His attorneys said he was framed.

The not-guilty finding comes one month after the murder conviction and 70-year sentence of Vanessa Cameron, described by prosecutors as the mastermind of the life insurance plot, was tossed by the Fourth Court of Appeals because her supporters were unable to watch jury selection.

The district attorney's office is challenging that decision in hopes that the conviction will be reinstated. If it isn't, Cameron will get a new murder trial.

Tuesday's verdict, however, bars prosecutors from trying Brown again for the slaying. Members of Johnson's family gasped as the verdict was read after less than three hours of jury deliberations. They quickly filed out of the 379th state District Courtroom with heads bowed.

Prosecutors alleged that Cameron, the daughter of a San Antonio police sergeant, plotted the January 2010 slaying of her ex-boyfriend so she could collect on a $750,000 life insurance policy.

Cameron recruited sister Susan Sutton, according to authorities. Sutton, who took a 25-year plea deal in February, told jurors Monday that she got the defendant to join the plot.

“He did it because he loves me,” she said of Brown.

A fourth alleged co-conspirator, LaKisha Brown, told jurors last week that she joined the defendant in hogtying Johnson and driving him to a remote property in Seguin. Johnson held up jeans belonging to his young son as he begged for his life, but her cousin shot him repeatedly anyway, she testified.

LaKisha Brown also took a plea, agreeing to testify for a sentence of no more than 25 years.

Texas law bars jurors from finding a defendant guilty solely on testimony from co-defendants, defense attorney Cleophus Marshall pointed out repeatedly during closing arguments. But even if that wasn't the case, neither co-defendant is believable, he argued.

Johnson had at one point agreed to be murdered so his son could have the insurance money, Marshall contended. When the defendant talked Johnson out of it, the three other co-defendants decided to quietly push ahead with the plot and blame it on Bernard Brown, Marshall argued.